After Luo Yan left, the studio returned to its tranquility.

As the night deepened, the young girl working to support her studies also left, and she closed the door for Mr. Harvey on her way out.

Harvey sat alone by the window, holding a sketch draft, gazing at the flame rising from the silver candlestick.

The candlelight was sometimes as bright as golden Holy Light, and sometimes dull like the twilight of dusk, and finally, there was a hint of barely noticeable bluish glow hidden in the extinguished smoke.

His mind repeatedly recalled the words Luo Yan had said earlier—

"Yes, that is my most proficient magic."

"I like its color."

Flame...

What color is it really?

Harvey gently furrowed his brow, pondering intensely for a long time, but he could not come up with any reliable answer.

Perhaps—

That answer was never meant to be an answer, but a riddle.

As he sank into contemplation, a polite knock suddenly sounded. Moments later, the studio door slowly opened, and Casite Hillfin entered with a gentle smile from the hallway.

Seeing Casite at the door, Harvey quickly stood up, slightly surprised, and went up to greet him: "Your Lordship the Earl? What brings you here?"

Casite waved slightly to indicate that he need not stand on ceremony, then continued, "I was just at the Imperial Royal Academy, and as I passed by, I thought I'd come take a look...I heard you've already met with Prince Colin?"

"Yes," Harvey nodded, about to call his assistant to pour a glass of water for His Lordship the Earl, but realizing she had left for the day, he awkwardly fetched a chair himself, "Please, have a seat."

Casite did not sit down but walked past Harvey to the canvas drying rapidly under the effect of magic.

Candlelight and moonlight intertwined on the canvas surface, rendering the character's face both mysterious and vivid.

Admiring the lifelike Colin, Casite nodded in approval, his gaze full of appreciation.

The drying process would roughly continue for a week or two, and thereafter would require a "glazing" process before it could be officially framed.

Yet even without undergoing this final step, given his understanding and appreciation of art, he could unhesitatingly judge—the quality of the entire painting was at least at an "excellent" standard.

This is a valuation system established by the Hillfin family for the Imperial Royal Art Academy and the entire art world of the Empire; works of "excellent" quality are valued at no less than fifty thousand Gold Coins.

The empire's artists are one of its many money-printing machines, but what he cared about was not the mere tens of thousands of Gold Coins, but that the Hillfin family's treasury had one more heirloom.

Gazing at "The Kind and Majestic His Highness Roxey Colin", Casite grew more fond the longer he looked and suddenly spoke.

"What is your impression of him?"

Looking at Casite, who had his back to him, Harvey hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

"His Highness Roxey Colin...is more cultured than I imagined. His speech is elegant and appropriate, and he carries himself with the demeanor of the great nobles. I've only seen a similar aura in Duke Valencia, Marshal Laco...and you."

Casite laughed heartily after hearing this, waving his hand and said.

"You don't need to flatter me by comparing me to these gentlemen; even I find it embarrassing."

Harvey gave a shy smile, scratching the back of his head.

"That's merely my subjective feeling, and you surely have your own reasoning, but in my mind...you are not inferior to those two gentlemen."

Casite smiled faintly, not continuing this topic but instead asked further.

"Then...do you think he resembles a Prince?"

Harvey was momentarily taken aback and asked confusedly.

"...Is he not?"

"Of course he is; I was just asking casually," Casite said offhandedly, "No need to take it to heart."

Actually, whether he is or not doesn't matter.

Who in the entire Holy City doesn't have a trace of imperial blood? Likely, even the Emperor himself couldn't clarify this matter.

Five hundred years ago, the obscure ancient families weren't essential from the start; what the Elder Faction needed was a pretext of "ancient" lineage, to facilitate their subsequent affairs.

Just as the Church Court needs a pretext of "piety."

As for His Majesty the Emperor, he probably doesn't care how pure that descendant's bloodline is; all the Royal Knight Order and Marshal Laco wish to confirm is his loyalty.

As long as the territory is real, the man is real, and the Colin family has authority on the Gana Continent, and this continent is firmly under the control of the Empire—

That's sufficient.

Seeing Harvey puzzled, Casite was about to divert the conversation when his gaze suddenly fell on the draft placed aside.

An expression of curiosity appeared on his face, and he asked with interest.

"Is this your new work? It seems different from your usual style."

A faint smile appeared in Harvey's eyes as he softly explained.

"This is a gift I'm presenting to His Highness the Prince in my personal capacity; it's only a draft right now. Speaking of which, I should thank His Highness for the inspiration for this painting."

"Oh?" Casite was surprised, looking at Harvey with great interest, "A Prince from the New Continent, actually able to inspire the renowned Baron Mitiya...I'm curious what he inspired in you?"

"He mentioned an art style called 'abstract'...beyond mimicking nature, a painter can also use elements from nature to express their own spirit world. Did you know? Upon hearing his expression, I felt as if a door to a new world had opened!"

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